[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
I heard they’re building a factory down in South Carolina
With a death potential that’s uncontrolled by government designers
It would house atomic waste and be a constant reminder
That they got a great big timebomb ticking in South Carolina

[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron with Background Vocals by Victor Brown and Brian Jackson]
Said whatever happened to the protests and the rage?
Whatever happened to the voices of the sane?
Whatever happened to the people who gave a damn?
Didn’t they just apply to dying in the jungle of Vietnam?

[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
Said they’re building a great big factory down in South Carolina
And the trains will roll cross-country with their cargo behind ‘em
They could take a million lives, my brother, need I remind you?
And they got no respect for human life in South Carolina

[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron with Background Vocals by Victor Brown and Brian Jackson]
Said whatever happened to the protests and the rage?
And whatever happened to the voices of the sane?
And whatever happened to the people that gave a damn?
And didn’t that just apply to dying in the jungle of Vietnam, I wonder

[Bridge: Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
I heard they’re building a factory down in South Carolina
And the trains will roll on through here with their cargo behind ‘em
They could take a million lives, sweet woman, now, need I remind you?
That they got a great big timebomb tick-tick-ticking in South Carolina

[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron with Background Vocals by Victor Brown and Brian Jackson]
Said whatever happened to the protests and the rage?
Whatever happened to the voices of the sane?
And whatever happened to the people who gave a damn?
Didn’t that just apply to dying in the jungle of Vietnam?

[Outro: Gil Scott-Heron with Background Vocals by Victor Brown and Brian Jackson]
Talking ‘bout
South Carolina, thinking ‘bout
South Carolina. It was ‘bout
South Carolina. I’m in
South Carolina. Women down in
South Carolina, oh yes
South Carolina, Orangeburg’s in
South Carolina, some been
South Carolina, woah